Has anyone here actually "worn out" a handgun?

D

dsk

New member
We hear it all the time, people posting with questions like "how long with my alloy-framed 1911 last?" and "what will happen if I run a steady diet of +P ammo through my snub revolver?".

The question I submit here is, has anyone here actually "worn out" or broken a handgun under normal use (don't count accidents or neglect) beyond practical repair, requiring you to retire or get rid of it? I am defining "worn out" as having suffered enough wear as to make repairing the weapon or even continuing to use it as being impractical or unsafe.

I ran this question by the 1911 Forum members a few years ago, and couldn't find anybody who had ever ended up with an unserviceable handgun under normal use. If you have, please provide details as to why you considered it no longer serviceable.
 
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I know a former USAF combat arms instructor that's had Beretta slides fail on the firing line. Of course, who knows how many rounds went through those.
 
I'm looking for first-hand accounts please, not "I know some guy...". The Beretta slide breakages are old history. I'm talking about who here has actually had to retire a handgun of theirs because they shot it enough to actually wear it out. Estimated round count would also be great, if it happened.
 
I had a 6" Model 29-2 that I've long since traded off, that I fed nothing but a steady diet of heavy loads. It needed a trip to S&W for a rebuild bad.
 
I didn't wear it out personally but I do have Dad's 999 sportsman which is clearly worn out. Pity too as it is a really neat piece.

mike
 
I found out a few months ago (correct me if I am mistaken folks) that gunsmiths used to add metal to slide rails of 1911's or other parts by welding. Then they would file down / polish for a tight fit. This would be for competition oriented pieces where no one would die if the slide failed to reciprocate.

Currently there are smiths who add steel to trigger bars of semi autos by welding to create pretravel and overtravel stops. I'm referring to the M&P series semi auto.

So adding steel has been done, it is still being done in one form or another. Unless there are no more true gun smiths but only part swappers in the future, you should for the most part be able to keep your gun running. Even parts that are no longer being produced could probably be custom machined for a VERY high price. But is it economical?

I'm trying to think of a situation where a gun can absolutely not be repaired even given a very high budget. Maybe a frame that is aluminum alloy or something exotic you would not be able to manipulate / weld. Or if data on an obscure gun is hard to come by.

I've asked that question too about an aluminum snub I own. Looking around I found that a long term wear point that cannot be easily fixed by swapping a part is the hole that the center pin locks into when the cylinder is swung shut. It can start widening after a lot of use. I'm not certain of the remedy but seeing as how a different snub I have has a steel bushing there so that won't happen, I think that could be fixed too.

Most of the answers I received (and maybe you too) is that "the gun will outlast you if you take care of it. Now get out there and start shooting!" - sound familiar? The nice thing is - given parts availability or good customer service, maybe it's true.
 
A old German made revolver my dad won on in a drawing when i was 13yrs. old...

It was a double action 22 LR revolver 4 inch barrel......1000's upon 1000's of rounds went thru that gun..till one day i pulled the trigger and heard a click ..not a bang....I really can't recall the brand ..i wish i still had it.....just as a keep sake...
 
Does my Taurus M85 count? I wore it out after 250 rounds.... :)

I'd guess you won't get a whole lot of responses as DYL pointed out, most guns can repaired if you are willing to spend the money to get them up and running again. As an example, I've got a my Grandfather's 1925 double barrel 12 ga LeFever. It is pretty worn out and has seen 1000's of shells through it. While it doesn't lock up tight, I'm sure it could be repaired if I were willing to spend the money.
 
I'd guess you won't get a whole lot of responses as DYL pointed out, most guns can repaired if you are willing to spend the money to get them up and running again.
Click to expand...

Actually that's kind of the point I'm getting at with this thread. So many guys seem to worry about how long their new toy is going to last, asking for ways to prolong the lifespan. The truth is, if you care about it enough it can usually be repaired, and in the event you do wear it out the $$$ in ammo it took to reach that point is far greater than the cost of simply buying a new firearm.
 
I got an FIE Buffalo Scout when I was 10. By the time I was 12 it wouldn't stay cocked and the barrel wobbled in the frame.
 
I have had parts break, but have never worn one to the state of being dangerous or not wanting to shoot it.
 
I only wish I had the ammo or the money to buy the ammo to TRY and wear one out. Say 250,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 rounds. Will it still work,can it be repaired
 
I've broken a S&W Model 19 from excessively hot loads. Does that count?

Despite a cracked forcing cone, the gun was actually salvageable, and after getting it repaired, it's still in the stable.
 
The RG .22lr I have has had a whopping 500 rounds MAX through it.

Its pretty well worn to the point I only shoot it to see if it still can. :(


Not sure any metal could be added effectively.:confused: but the thing is a known POJunk so I dont know why you would even want to.
 
I had an old Mossberg bolt action 22lr training rifle(fom 1940's I think) that I recieved for my 12th birthday (1972). loved that gun and probably shot upwards of 50,000 rounds through it, first problem (at 21 yrs old) the gun would slamfire when I closed the bolt, had it fixed, then the safety broke, about 1000 rounds later the bolt just fell to pieces one outing. The gunsmith said retire it so, I bought a Marlin model 60 w/tube magazine under barrel from him for 50 bucks and a brick of shells and didn't look back.
 
I have a Nazi Hi-Power than been fired regularly since the Battle of the Bulge. Still going strong; just does not like modern magazines.
 
bulldog

I had an early Charter Bulldog .44 spec that I eventually shot out of time.

Primary contributor to that process was me shooting reloads that were a bit stiff for the little revolver. I cannot recall the load, but it used cast 250 gr SWC and a dose of Unique. That was an accurate little revolver, and wish I had treated it better. I bought a set of Pach's for it and had a little over 100 rds went it went south.
 
I've shot a Model 13 & Model 19 loose shooting lots of heavy 357s. That's why I always came back to my Model 28.
 
I broke a HK P2000.

It started off with a broken trigger rebound spring, which was easy enough to replace and pretty common in this model.

When the hammer strut broke, along with trigger rebound spring #2, it was retired.

I've personally seen 3 other P2000s that have broken the slide where the recoil spring guide rod pokes through the front of the slide.
 
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